Full lock down & child care for front line workers

[ER1992]

Sorry if this has already been asked but I have a question. I work in pharmacy part time and have an 18 month old who currently goes to my mum 1 day and MIL the next while I work (both below 70 and still work themselves, 1 in school and the other in GP surgery)... I'm already anxious and worried about leaving him with them to go to work this week with the social distancing etc and them both obviously still being in close contact with people as well as myself. But with the job I do I have no choice and have to be there. However if a complete lock down happens will I be within my rights to say to my work I'm not prepared to put my son and also both mums at risk by sending him round there so I won't be able to work. Obviously I know I will have to take it unpaid but that is the least of my worries in the current situation. Hope that made sense.

Not an expert in the law, but I don't believe anyone would blame you or hold it against you. For that matter you could say later that you had symptoms yourself or a family member had.

By being in work you are helping others, but in the end you have to do what's best for your family.

I don't think saying I have symptoms is a good idea because if I was to genuinely get symptoms later on I'd be in a muddle. It's such a difficult situation because I know how much I am needed at work and while it's just the social distancing rule I will continue to go in for as long as I can but once we go into full lock down (if we do) I don't want to be risking my family getting it when I could have avoided it

People seem to strugfle with the fact that workplaces, essential ones in particular, will still function during any 'lockdown'and I doubt very much you will be given any 'legal' right to refuse. Or else there would be no hospitals or police etc.

I'm not struggling to understand they will still function because I KNOW they will still function. But I don't know how child care rules will apply for those of us who will still be going to work